-Chapter 2-

The Winds of Change

I follow the Moskva, down to Gorky Park, listening to the wind of change. An August summer night, soldiers passing by, listening to the wind of change.

The world is closing in, and did you ever thing that we could be so close, like brothers? The future's in the air, I can feel it everywhere, blowing with the wind of change.

Take me to the magic of the moment on a glory night, where the children of tomorrow dream away, in the wind of change.

Reij leaned back on the medieval throne, one leg crossed over the other and looking extremely bored, as he always did when calling such gatherings. At the other end of the long hall, the twin doors had been left opened, with soldiers of varying ranking slowly filing in. Edward stood to the right of the throne, with the militant named Kyle standing to the left. In the far left corner, the gargantuan mutant Hammerhand sat still as stone, carefully watching the leaders by the throne.

Reij scanned the room, "Where the hell is that foreigner?"

"I delivered the message myself," Edward said, "He said he'd be here."

Right then, the foreigner did indeed appear in the doorway, accompanied by two of his own men with the same bronzed skin as himself. He stepped up to the throne, bowing at the waist, "Your Grace!"

Reij waved him away, "Can the damn formalities and get in line. Is that everyone?"

As Tormuj stepped to stand by Edward, the latter scanned the room, "Appears to be... sir."

"Right then, let's get this over with!" Reij yelled as he stood, clapping his hands twice, "Yo! Shut those doors and let's get on with it!"

After the doors were shut, Reij sat back down, "Who wants to go first?"

The twin monsters Sinnah and Sonnia appeared from amongst the gathered crowd, and stepped towards the throne, stopping five paces away.

"Right, you two," Reij said, "What can I do ya for?"

"Mighty Reij!" The male, Sinnah, giggled, "We were hoping to receive our weapon back!"

"It served it's purpose to weaken the... former leader so that you could seize the position," The female Sonnia added,

Reij considered this proposition with a snort, "Sorry, no can do! There's something about that thing and I intend to find out exactly what!"

Sinnah stepped forward then, a hand already reaching for his blade, "I don't believe it was a question, sir!"

"You have no right to that materia," Sonnia said, "nor could any of you here possibly begin to understand what power it holds!"

"Oh, but I have every right to it, sister!" Reij laughed, "It was a gift, right? Well, I'm claiming the thing now; spoils of war! And you clearly don't know the guy I got studying the thing!"

"All you'll do is bring doom to everything you've built," Sonnia glowered.

"Enough!" Reij snarled, "You'll get it back when my guy is through with it. Which reminds me... where is Baron?"

"Perhaps we'll cut you into ribbons and add your soul to it's power!" Sinnah cackled, an evil glint in his eye.

In an instant, a wall of guns on both sides of the room were aimed at the twins. Sonnia smacked the male across the cheek, then bowed in apology, "As you say, but don't forget just who it was who helped you attain what you wanted most."

"Whatever," Reij huffed, "Next!"

Before another word was spoken, one of the large wooden doors was suddenly thrown open to clatter against the wall, with two forms entering. The first, taller of the two, wore a black duster jacket, which wafted behind him as he walked. Beneath that was a matching black button down vest thrown over a plain white collared shirt with a black tie tucked within. Black dress pants stopped just at the ankle, with shiny black boots clicking loudly on the hard floor. In the man's right hand, skeletal thin, he held a black cane, the butt-end coated in silver, and the handle of which was a white sphere, resembling a materia. The ring finger of the hand holding the cane sported a plain silver band, with a white gem inserted into it. The left hand reached up, first to push the rounded spectacles back into place, and then to push more of the slicked back platinum blonde hair back into place.

"Well son of a bitch!" Reij's voice carried across the hall, "The great Baron Devlynn decides to show his face after all!"

"Boss," Devlynn called back across the hall, and started towards the throne, cane leading the way.

The shambling creature that followed close to Baron's side was, more or less, human. It was hunchbacked, always bent forward and shuffling in awkward half steps. The right arm was considerably swollen, almost as large as the rest of it's body, chorded muscles and veins surging through it. The other arm was just the opposite, and was thin, almost as wide as a stick. Only a few hairs remained on it's head, and what teeth that remained were brown, like a line of rotting tombstones. It wore simple black pants, and a butcher's smock around the rest of it's body. On approach, the other assembled militants shuffled away to give them a wide berth. Even Hammerhand seemed to turn away from them.

Devlynn noticed this with a chuckle, "Why do you shrink back in fear?" While patting the creature on the head, "Ramsey is harmless, more or less, and extremely intelligent."

The creature Ramsey chuckled a hoarse, horrible sound, sending spittle and saliva scattering every which way, "Good Ramsey always helps!"

"You're the one I wanted to see, Baron." Reij called, then beckoned the man closer.

Devlynn and the creature Ramsey stopped five paces before the stage, the former clicking his cane loudly on the floor, "And here I am."

"Has anything changed that we need to know about?" Edward asked.

Devlynn shrugged, "Since three days ago? Nothing. I haven't even started work on the materia yet... much work to do, experiments to run on people..."

Suddenly, Sinnah shoved his way through the crowd, "So this abomination is who you gave our weapon to?" Then turned and faced the Baron, "Well! You'll be giving it back to us!"

Devlynn seemed unimpressed, even bored, "Abomination, is it? Funny, coming from one such as you." Then clicked his tongue, "I should like to see you try. Now I suggest you get back in line and remember your place, lest I sick my pet on you."

Sinnah looked down at the creature Ramsey, and started to laugh.

Devlynn also looked down, then back to Sinnah, "Oh no, not him; he is only my assistant." He then raised his left hand and pointed into the corner, "I would like to see you tumble with him, however."

Hammerhand gurgled a sound.

Edward froze in place, looking first to the giant in the corner, and the ominous Baron, "Wh... what?"

"Oh, you didn't know?" Devlynn chuckled, "One of my first creations! And possibly the finest, might I add, seeing as he is still in tact... more or less."

Reij cackled, "What, you didn't think Silver Hair found that giant fuck on the side of the road like a stray dog, did'ja? And you," Pointing at Sinnah, "Sit down and shut up or I'll let the good Baron here place you on his rack next!"

Sonnia appeared behind her brother, again smacking him on the cheek and pulling him back into the crowd.

"Now, Baron, what's the update on the camps?" Reij asked.

Again Devlynn shrugged, "I've not received the reports from the southern or western dignitaries yet. But I do doubt that there will be any problems. The other scientists all trained under myself, and as you know, boss, my methods are very..." Here he chuckled, flexing his left hand, the knuckle bones cracking loudly, "...persuasive."

The creature Ramsey began to snicker a nasally, grating sound, "Ramsey likes to play!"

Devlynn whipped his cane around, the butt-end cracking the side of the creature's head with a horrible sound, "You shall speak only when spoken to."

"And the local camps and labs?" Edward asked.

Devlynn nodded, "So far, everything continues to go as planned. Soon enough your ranks will be back to their pre-Junon strength."

Reij nodded his approval, "Maybe Silver Hair wasn't a total moron after all! Ha ha! And that special serum?" This he said, glancing at Hammerhand in the corner.

The Baron sighed, "More subjects have died than I care to admit; it proves that I shouldn't mix brandy with science. The formula has yet to come back to me."

"Well, I suggest you hurry it along, Baron. Tormuj!"

The bronze-skinned man stepped down to stand next to Devlynn, then faced the throne, "Your Grace?"

"How's the weapons construction going at the Junction?" Reij demanded.

Tormuj clicked his heels together, "Nearly complete, Your Grace! Just waiting for..."

"...my special touch," Devlynn chuckled. "Very well, I'll set out at once; you'll find, boss, I've already taken the liberty of packing my equipment."

"Your Grace!" Tormuj quickly added, "If there is nothing left for this one here, this one requests to join Sir Devlynn back to Junction Town!"

Devlynn raised a brow, "I don't need to be coddled, boy," And here pulled back his coat, to show an oddly colored (and even more oddly shaped) gun tucked into his belt, "I am more than capable of handling my own."

Tormuj smiled a modest smile, showing even white teeth, "A courteous gesture, Sir Devlynn! This one had planned to return to the Junction regardless!"

"Or you can let me go," Edward took a step forward, "I hear you like to torture; happens to be a specialty of mine. Maybe I could help."

The Baron scoffed, "I'm much older than you, Cross; been at this a long time. I don't require any assistance, least of all from you."

Edward's face hardened, "You think so?"

"Shall we have a contest, then?" Devlynn's wiry lips smirked, just slightly, "One victim apiece, see who's screams first? You'll find I hardly require any actual cutting to induce terror... just ask my last victim. Some wiry female from Wutai as I recall."

Tormuj winced at that, even slowly reached for one of his daggers at his belt.

"Ah, that reminds me!" Reij's voice suddenly boomed, "Tormuj, how is that little Wutai slut? Yuffie was her name? I already know you and that silver-haired prick stashed her at the Junction while the rest of us were out fighting at Junon."

"Another Wutain girl?" Devlynn wondered, "Oh, my favorite. Perhaps this journey won't be so terrible after all... something to look forward to!"

Tormuj's dagger slid a little further out of the sheath, he eyeballing the Baron carefully.

"Keep your mitts off her, Baron!" Reij barked, "That one has some value, unfortunately. Need the bitch completely whole."

Devlynn sighed, "Such a pity. Very well, boss, I shall take my leave; I'll stop and check in on the camps and labs along the path and send you my report." Then turned on a heel and headed for the exit, "Come, Ramsey."

Tormuj slid the dagger back into place, then turned to face the throne, "The girl is well enough, Your Grace. Shall I return to Junction Town?"

"Fine, go," Reij waved a hand, "I'm sendin' some of my boys along with ya to help hold down the fort, and to keep an eye on Baron and his own cronies."

"Your Grace," Tormuj bowed again, "Glory to the Brotherhood!" Then also turned and left the room, his personal men and a few of Reij's following close behind.

"And me, sir?" Edward asked.

"What's the situation on the reserves in Mideel?" Reij turned and looked at the general of the rebels.

"A third are on their way here, the rest stayed behind." Edward answered.

"Whatever works. The stowaways?"

Edward thought a moment, "Haven't heard from most of them as yet, so I assume they're still at sea... but eye-witness accounts from our other men confirm they made it onboard the ships."

Reij nodded, "Regular guys are one thing..." Then turned to look at Hammerhand, "But how are we going to get this ugly fuck onto a ship?"

Hammerhand slowly rose, having to bend forward somewhat, lest he shatter the roof, "M...meeee... fiiightttt?"

"Soon as I find a use for ya, ugly!" Reij laughed, "Maybe Devlynn can whip up a shrinking potion? Ha ha! Then we could shrink our entire army and send 'em right into Edge!"

Sonnia came forward then, her brother standing two steps back, a red hand print still clearly viable on both cheeks. She asked, "And what shall we do, sir?"

Reij scoffed in annoyance, rising to his feet, "You two freaks just hang out for now! We got Baron and Tormuj at the Junction, Hammerhand is hopefully headed overseas soon; need as many bodies around right now! Edward, you and Hammerhand meet me in the courtyard in ten minutes, I got another trick to pull out of my hat. The rest of ya, get the fuck outta my sight!"

The assembled troops and soldiers, the Twin Blades included, began to file out of the room, Hammerhand having to crawl out the doors on his hands and knees. Reij gave Edward one final look, before he too left through the double doors.

Edward stepped off the slightly raised platform the throne was built upon, then five paces from the throne itself, turned and faced it. He seemed to smirk as he examined the throne, biting his bottom lip to keep from laughing. Everything seemed to be working just as he had hoped it would!

A powerful force suddenly assaulted his mind, it feeling like a grating edged weapon stabbing into his mind. He instantly gripped his head with both hands, the pain so searing he fell down onto one knee.

"You can't fight it forever, you know," A voice whispered in his mind.

His vision flashed, rapidly changing from the throne before him, and wisps of green energy... the Lifestream?

The sound of a door opening yanked him free of the thoughts, Edward quickly standing up to face the doors, coated in sweat.

"General Cross?" The militant asked, "You all right?"

"Fine," Edward responded immediately, "Carry on, son."

He then turned and glanced one final time at the throne, the ultimate seat of evil power, then followed the militant out of the room.

~ ` ` ` [VII] ` ` ` ~

~ ` ` ` [Edge City; WRO Tower; Intensive Care Unit] ` ` ` ~

The entire room was depressing, white tile floor, white ceiling, beige colored floral wallpaper, the steady beep...beep...beep of the heart monitor by now nothing but background noise.

Rufus had remained in the same seat for close to an entire day straight with no food, rest, or even water. He felt as though he were rooted to the chair, and felt no inclination to move. Directly across from him, Tseng lay in the hospital bed, hooked to life support machines and an oxygen mask tightly strapped to his face. As soon as Rufus had caught wind of the assault, he rushed over at once, and had been there ever since. Directly above him, bolted to the wall, a small square tv played some news program.

"Who did this to you, old friend?" Rufus asked aloud, leaning forward and resting his chin on the handle of his cane.

Rufus still remembered the scene very well, as the cleaning crews had still been working to clean up the blood from the floor and walls. He recalled bursting through the taped off crime scene, proclaiming that he would fire each and every policeman present should they try to detain him. Lysa had been there of course, along with a female blonde Turk recruit, the latter having been answering questions by the police. Apparently she had been the one to originally discover the Director's body. When he questioned Lysa, she only said that she had come as soon as she heard, and couldn't fathom who or for what reason someone would want Tseng dead.

"Surely you know," Rufus said aloud again to the unconscious Director, "if those foolish crime shows are to be believed, a killer always reveals himself before he kills his victim. Wake up, and tell me."

He had known Tseng for a long time, and knew that the Turk Director was no pushover. Whoever had gotten the jump on him had to be very skilled indeed. He saw photos of Tseng's body; a crude carving of JENOVA's head across his shoulders, the word 'brotherhood' and 'he was the first of many' smeared on the wall by the body. So, the Brotherhood were responsible, but how could they have possibly gotten an assassin inside the Tower of all places?

"I need you, Tseng. You're my best agent."

First Reno and Rude, and now Tseng?

Just then, the door to the room opened, and Reeve slowly stepped in. Rufus looked over his shoulder to see two elite marines remain on either side of the door, which Reeve closed.

Rufus scoffed, "What's wrong, Reeve? Don't trust the safety of your own Tower?"

"Considering what happened to Tseng, it seems no one is safe anymore," Reeve replied, then stepped closer to the bed.

Rufus watched all of this carefully, finally actually hearing the television above him, "Why do you think they put tv's in coma patients rooms, Reeve?"

Reeve shrugged, "Some people think they can still hear."

Rufus snorted, "So leave them a radio; who still thinks they can see?"

"What are you getting at?"

"I'm getting at that my best man and possibly the closest thing to a friend I've ever had was stabbed in the back, and the only thing keeping him alive are those machines."

Reeve sighed, "Does Elana now?"

"Called her soon as Lysa filled me in. She was down by the docks, on her way here last I heard. That recruit have anything useful to say?"

Reeve sat in the second chair on the other side of the bed, "No. She was on her way to her initiation test and found Tseng. The attacker was long gone."

"I assume a full investigation is underway," Rufus cut his eyes at the other male.

"Of course, Rufus; you think I'll let something like this slide? Now the Brotherhood apparently has access to the Tower!"

"The only question is how. This technically should be the safest place in all of Edge." Rufus scoffed then, "Looks like the Brotherhood again have proven us wrong."

Reeve considered this, "What have the doctors said?"

"They all want to take him off the life support; say it'd be a mercy, that as it stands we're just prolonging his suffering."

"And you haven't given that any thought?" Reeve inquired.

"Of course I have, Reeve!" Rufus suddenly snapped, yelling louder than expected and using his cane to shatter a nearby glass vase, "I've done nothing but consider that the entire time I've been sitting here! And do you know how long I've been sitting here? I expect I'll be back in that wheelchair before much longer, because I haven't moved from here in the last day or so!"

Reeve stood up then, waving away the marines who suddenly entered the room, "Tseng is a figher, Rufus. He always has been. And we'll find out who did this to him."

"And in the meantime, what?" Rufus brooded, "Shall we pretend nothing has happened? Once the entire Tower hears about this, what do you think that will do for morale?"

Reeve turned to look at the fallen Director upon the bed, "I already have everyone locking everything down tight; only a very select few are allowed to come and go as they please. As of now, we're at security level three."

Rufus looked away from the man, and out the nearby window, "And when are we at level one, Reeve? The maximum?"

Now Reeve looked back at the other male, a dark look on his face, "When we discover our enemy has hidden nuclear labs, and their finger is on the launch button."

Rufus said nothing.

As Reeve moved to exit the room, he stopped by Rufus, and put a palm on his shoulder, "Don't make the selfish mistake, thinking you're the only one who has lost something to war." Then patted his shoulder once, and opened the door to step out.

"Oh, and," Reeve paused in the doorway, looking back towards Rufus, "You have visitors."

"Who, and why should I care?"

But Reeve closed the door, and he was gone.

For the first time in nearly an entire day, Rufus stood up, the bones in his legs cracking and popping back into place. He found that he needed the use of his walking cane more than usual, bending down to gently massage the inside of his right knee. So far, each and every time the Brotherhood attacked, it wasn't just on one front, but multiple, and that not all battles were fought in the field. He vaguely recalled reading a report that the Lockhart woman's bar had come under attack yet again, the assailants doing all but burning the building down. Did Reeve know about that, and if so why had he not mentioned it to Cloud and the others? A waste of his breath, no doubt, but still a bit out of character for Reeve.

And on top of all that, at the same time Tseng was attacked, and now practically dead himself.

"Our silver-haired friend is more cunning than he seems," Rufus said, looking down again at Tseng's body.

He thought back to the other times the WRO and Brotherhood had clashed and all the end results. Lost fights, empty victories, countless lives lost, and terror striking in the one place that should have been the safest. An epiphany struck Rufus then, like a bolt of lightning.

"You were looking into something our enemy didn't want to be discovered," This he said to the unconscious Tseng.

"But what?" Rufus asked again out loud. "And how would they even know that you were looking into it, and why would they want to keep that secret buried?"

Rufus' hand shot into his coat pocket and removed a cellphone, dialing two numbers and quickly bringing it to his ear.

The line only rang half of a time, "Yes, sir. Howtzer here."

"I need a twenty on Elana and that female Turk recruit who found Tseng,"

"Right away, sir," Lysa responded, "And then what?"

"I don't like when there are more questions than answers," Rufus quickly said, "When you find them, bring them to my office immediately. We're going to get to the bottom of this."

"Yes, sir," Lysa said, and then hung up.

Rufus waited a moment, then dialed two different numbers. This time the line rang twice, then clicked.

"Master Sergeant Biggs here. Mr. ShinRa?"

"I hope you can hear me,"

"Yes sir," The voice replied, "What's..."

"Listen closely, Biggs," Rufus snapped, "I understand you answer directly to Reeve, but I need a small favor. I want eyes on Tseng's room at all times. No Turks, no recruits, I want only your own personal men watching the Director around the clock."

There was a pause, "Sir, I... don't understand. Why me, and not your Turks?"zz

Rufus felt a vein surge in his temple, his patience long gone, "You're not being paid to understand Sergeant Biggs, you're being paid to obey. Now, can you help me or shall I have you tried for insubordination? And believe me when I say that Reeve won't save you."

Another pause, then a sigh, "I'll have Wedge and Jessie up right away, sir."

"Thank you," Rufus spat, then slammed the phone shut and put it back into his pocket, then looked again at Tseng, "The enemy is clever, we have to consider every possibility at this point. Even the most preposterous."

The door opened then, Rufus turning to berate the intruders, but could hardly believed what he saw. The pair entered the room slowly, both obviously worn and torn from the road. The shorter of the two had long since ripped the sleeves from his black overcoat, leaving his arms bare from shoulder to fingers. His hair was disheveled, wild, and hanging every which way. The taller had removed his own coat and had wrapped it around his apparently injured right arm. Both of them were filthy, splotched with mud and dirt and grime, their remaining clothing sporting burn holes, dried mud, and even faint splatters of what could only be blood.

"Holy... shit..." The first of the two muttered, stepping closer.

"Director...?" The second breathed.

Rufus himself snuck a hand into his jacket pocket and pinched himself so hard he nearly drew blood. "Well now, it appears that nothing stranger nor worse, nor better could possibly happen today."

"Boss, what the fuck happened?" Reno asked.

"Who did this?" Rude also asked, removing his sunglasses.

Rufus forced a small smile, putting his back to the two Turks, once again looking upon the one in the hospital bed, "Welcome back, boys. I'm afraid you've missed quite the party." After a moment, he turned and strode past the two, exiting the room, "Pay your respects and get yourselves cleaned up quickly. I trust you both still remember where my office is?" Then pulled the door shut as he walked away.

The two remaining Turks exchanged a look.

"Is it me, or does he seem... not happy that we're still alive?" Reno asked.

Rude scoffed, "What, were you expecting a big welcoming ceremony?"

"I'm just saying!" Reno quipped, stepping closer to Tseng's body, "Oh shit, Director. What happened?"

"Come on, partner," Rude said a minute later, placing his sunglasses back on, "Maybe we can find out some answers."

Right then, Reno's biggest fear was finding out whether or not anyone else that they knew had survived since he'd been away.

~ ` ` ` [VII] ` ` ` ~

~ ` ` ` [WRO Tower; isolation prison unit] ` ` ` ~

At that exact moment, deep below the Tower...

Cloud had sat down on the floor, his back and head resting against the solid steel door behind him. Like so many times before, his mind had begun to race, it feeling more more and more of a curtain was being pulled over his mind. How long he had been there he couldn't begin to guess, but it had to be at least several hours, close to a day perhaps? The silence became deafening, to the point where it had begun to make his head hurt. And so he stood up, and began to pace back and forth in the small cell, resorting to talking to himself; if only to hear some kind of noise.

"The silver-haired man attacked Junon so soon after the WRO attacked Fort Condor," Cloud said aloud, turning and walking to the other side of the room, "where could he be getting so much manpower?

"If they could boost their numbers so quickly, how soon before they're going to attack again? He said that day outside Junon, he wanted to destroy every oppressor... what is it he had said? They believe they're the rightful rulers of the Planet. And who does that sound like?"

Cloud paused here to actually laugh, though it was more a sarcastic laugh, "Sephiroth, of course! But he's not a Remnant; a Remnant wouldn't nearly collapse from using a simple summon materia. Kadaj didn't, or so Rufus claimed once... unless maybe there's something about that materia he used."

"That's enough!" A gruff voice suddenly yelled from further down the hallway.

Cloud silenced himself then, going on alert and hearing approaching footsteps. Slowly he walked over towards his door, and peeked out the vertical window on his door. Thin, yet solid bars criss-crossed down the length, just close enough together that one couldn't stick more than their pinky finger out into the hallway. Directly across from his own door was another like his own, and there he knew that Barret was held there. Strange then, that Barret had not made a single sound this entire time. Was Barret even still in there? Had he become lost in his own little zone, talking aloud to himself, that he failed to notice anything else around him?

"Who's there? Reeve?" Cloud called through the window, the footsteps growing steadily louder.

Suddenly, a pair of mako infused eyes swept suddenly across the small window, Cloud making a startled sound and falling back against the hard cell floor.

"Not quite," Sephiroth chuckled, and stepped right through the steel door. With the two of them within the cell, the space was very cramped.

"Just leave me the hell alone already!" Cloud yelled.

Sephiroth slowly smirked, "Why, Cloud? I've always enjoyed our little... talks. I think this is my favorite torture of all... you, slowly now not knowing what's real, where I'll appear next."

"None of this is real; you're not real," Cloud snapped, yet found himself backing slowly into the furthest corner of his cell.

"Remember our first encounter... outside of the church, before you were besieged by wargs?" Sephiroth asked.

And before Cloud could answer, Sephiroth dashed across the cell, took Cloud by the throat and heaved him into the air, slamming him against the wall much like Cloud had Barret the day before.

"That feels real enough, doesn't it?" Sephiroth chuckled, tightening the grip on Cloud's throat.

And indeed it felt real, Cloud feeling the fingers digging into his neck, completely cutting off his air supply. He thrashed and kicked and punched, producing a barrage of noise, but he never noticed. All he saw were those glowing, now flaring bright green eyes.

"I'll... find a way... to be rid... of you...!" Cloud gasped, still fighting and thrashing for air.

"Oh? Do you think someone will just..." And here Sephiroth twirled his right hand in a circle, tauntingly, "...wave a magic wand, and I'll be banished? No, Cloud. My hatred of you keeps my soul out of the Lifestream."

"You'll... never... win...!"

"But I already have, Cloud. You just have yet to realize it."

"I said that's enough!" A third voice growled outside the cell.

Here, Sephiroth merely dropped Cloud to the floor with a loud sound, and began to slowly deteriorate into tiny black feathers, starting from his boots, "Fear might be a powerful weapon, Cloud, but here is something to consider. When has fear ever truly saved anyone?"

Then the apparition fully dissolved in a final puff of black feathers, and was gone. Right then, a man wearing a black ski mask and WRO marine attire stepped in front of the door, to find Cloud still rasping and sitting upon the floor.

"What'n the hell you doin', Strife?" The masked soldier demanded.

Cloud could only shake his head. From the other man's bulky build, and the specially colored patterns on his combat gear, Cloud knew this was no common soldier. No, this man answered directly to Reeve.

"Well keep it down!" The soldier barked, "Your pal in the next cell should be up anytime now."

"Barret?" Cloud asked.

"Big black dude? Yeah, him. Kept fighting us on the way down here, even clocked one of my guys! Had to give him a sedative to knock his ass out!" The soldier laughed, "Took three doses though! Enough to kill a full grown warg; tough son of a gun that one! Almost has my respect."

Cloud shook his head, not entirely surprised.

"Anyway, orders are once Mr. Wallace wakes up, you're both free to make all the noise you want. But until then, not another peep. Ya hear?"

Cloud nodded, knowing he was not in a position to argue.

As the soldier walked away and out of sight, Cloud heard a cellphone ringing. It only rang once before the soldier flipped it open, "Staff Sergeant Wedge here,"

The name caught Cloud's attention and he threw himself against the door, straining his ear to catch bits of conversation as the soldier continued to walk away.

"Yes sir. No sir, of course I heard." A pause. "But why not..." Another pause. "Roger that." Yet another pause, followed by a short yet hearty laugh, "You got that right! Corporal Jessie? I know exactly where she is. Yes sir, over and out." Then a loud clang as a door was shut at the far end of the hall.

"Wedge... and Jessie?" Cloud breathed, his mind instantly flashing back to one of his very first missions with AVALANCHE.

Sadly, those particular memories did not fade from his mind over the years, least of all the tragic end of the three members Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie. They were crushed when Rufus' father destroyed the old Sector Seven plate in Midgar... or were they? Surely that could not have been the same Wedge, as Cloud remembered him as being squat, and pudgy. That man was tall and muscular, bigger even than Barret. It had to be a coincidence.

Silence overtook the entire floor yet again, until Cloud heard a faint moaning, then a grunt, followed by the squeaking of bed springs. Looking across the hallway, Barret's face slowly appeared in the window of his own cell.

"Where the hell we at, foo'?" He mumbled.

"Solitary, or close enough to it; where do you think?" Cloud spat.

Barret bunched up instantly, "Clearly you ready for another ass whoopin', Spikey!"

Cloud temporarily forgot there was over six inches of reinforced steel separating the two, and tried to lunge again, fists banging against the door. "As I remember it, you were the one getting beat on."

"You got lucky, foo'!" Barret was seething now, punching his cell door with his graft hand; but he did little more than make very small dents in the steel.

"Yeah? Maybe once Reeve lets us out I'll show you just how far my lucky streak runs."

"Why wait!" Barret bellowed, and Cloud heard the graft arm whir, click, and disassemble. "I'ma blow outta here and yo ass is mine, Spikey!"

"Barret, no! Wait!" Cloud called, but too late, and ducked down behind his door.

The turret only let out two bullets, which clinged and clanged and ricocheted all around the small holding cell several times. "Shit fuck damn shit shit shit!" Cloud heard Barret scream and jump around to avoid being hit by his own bullets. Finally, all was silent, Cloud slowly standing back up to peer across the hall, expecting the worst.

"Bullet proof steel, moron!" Cloud yelled across the hall, "You think the WRO are really as stupid as you!"

The two security guards watching and listening to all of this via security cameras could only snicker.

Barret had since begun to turn red, again resorting to pounding on the door in hopes to knock it loose, "Keep talkin' shit, Spikey! It's just gonna be that much worse when I get to ya!"

Cloud tried to calm himself, "I might try and convince Reeve to let you stay in there longer, after what you did!"

"Me?" Barret laughed, "You're the one kissing Rufus' ass!"

"You also hit Tifa with your graft arm!" Cloud seethed.

"Wh... what! No I didn't!"

"Ask Reeve, he's got the security footage," Cloud retorted, "Right in the stomach, nearly knocked her out cold."

Barret calmed himself then, but not by much, "Aw, shit... I thought it was one of Rufus' guys or somethin'!"

"Well, it wasn't," Cloud went on, "and now you know why I nearly killed you."

"An' that's why I'm gonna pound your damn fool head in when I get out!" Now Barret was just as angry once again.

Again Cloud threw himself against the door, "For your sake, you'd best hope that..."

Clang!

"Shut the fuck up, both of ya!"

Cid suddenly stormed into their sight, and stood dead-center of the hallway between the two, his nostrils flaring in anger, "Fuckin' listen to what you numbskulls are sayin'!"

"Yo, mind your damn business, Cid!" Barret fumed.

"No, fuck that!" Cid yelled, "You two are practically brothers! You've known each other longer than I have and you're talkin' about killin' each other!"

"It's not my fault Barret can't control his anger," Cloud remarked.

"Fuck that too!" Cid cut the other blonde off, "Yer' the one that damn near put Barret through the thirty-first floor! And you!" Here he pointed at Barret, "I thought for sure you knocked Tifa's stomach back against her spine! What'n the hell were you thinkin'!"

"Ya act like I did it on purpose!" Barret bellowed, this time punching the door with his left hand, and splitting his knuckles.

"An' that's my point you braying jackasses!" Cid said, punching the side of his head once, "A fuckin' accident! And Cloud! I don't know what hidden agenda you got goin' with Rufus but it looked to me like you lost your temper!"

Cloud felt as though he had been struck, "There's no hidden agenda, Cid."

"And Barret! You need to let go of whatever samhell grudge you got against Rufus!" Cid went on, "Don't get me wrong I ain't president of his fan club either. Don't you two think we got enough shit to worry about?"

"What are you..." Barret went on, and the pilot interrupted him.

"Tseng got shivved, damn it! Right here in this tower, he's on life support just to stay alive!"

"What? When?" Cloud asked.

"Hell if I know! Point is, now those rebel fucks somehow have access to the home base! Do I gotta spell it out for ya?"

"Yo, Spikey," Barret called across the way, "D'ya see the pattern here?"

"Huh?"

"Think about it!" Barret said, "Every time we go off to fight these mugs, something always happens! Tifa an' the kids, the Seventh Heaven, now Tseng?"

"What's your point?" Cloud asked.

"That there might be a wolf in sheep's clothing, foo'!"

"Reeve had the same thought," Cid added, "he's got the whole Tower on lockdown. Not even a fly can get in here now!"

"An' what if the threat's locked in here with the rest of us?" Barret asked.

Right then, Cloud zoned out, remembering the last message Aerith had passed onto him, the day he and the others returned to the ruined Seventh Heaven, after Junon.

"Your enemies aren't just on the outside, but on the inside as well."

And so far, the Cetra had not been wrong in her messages.

"Do you know what's being done about it?" Cloud suddenly asked.

Cid shrugged.

"An' Tifa? She okay?" Barret asked.

"Tougher'n she looks, I know that much!" Cid laughed. "But she's fine, when I left her she was sleepin'."

"Well tell 'er I'm... naw, hell with that," Barret decided, "I'll tell her myself when I get out of here."

Cid nodded, "Well I suggest you two cool yer' jets so ya can get out sooner! We good here?"

Cloud thought for a moment, then nodded, "Good."

"Barret?"

"Yeah, all good here."

"Good," Cid said, then turned and started to walk away, "I'm headed back to keep an eye on Tifa. Catch y'all on the flip side!"

Clang! And Cid was gone.

"Hey, Barret."

"Yo?"

"You remember when I first joined AVALANCHE back in the day? Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie?"

"Of course, foo'! Why?"

"I need to talk to you about them, seeing as we're not going anywhere."

~ ` ` ` [VII] ` ` ` ~

~ ` ` ` [South of Cosmo Canyon] ` ` ` ~

"Hold yer' fire!" Cait screeched.

Right then, the red-furred creature lunged again, slamming into the manticore and the two falling backwards. The two combatants thrashed thrashed and tumbled, kicking up a billowing dust cloud all around them, clawing, raking, biting and snarling the entire time.

"Samhell!" Cait screamed, "Fight on, everyone!"

The toy cat scampered to the left, leaping through the air and landing in a small half-dead tree. It's tiny fists wrapped around a thick branch and yanked it sharply backwards, snapping the branch free. It ended in a sharp point, and Cait nodded his approval. He then leaped from the tree, landing on the back of one of the mutant scorpions, driving the pointed wood directly into it's head. The creature thrashed and convulsed once, then fell limp and died.

"Sir! They just keep coming!" One soldier yelled over the clamor.

"Jus' keep fightin' lad!" Cait called back, dislodging the branch from it's latest kill, "They gotta give up eventually!"

Cait then dashed toward a skeletal zombie advancing upon him, it's left fist glowing a pale green energy. A burst of green fog erupted from it's fist, knocking the zombie onto it's back, wherein Cait was upon it a moment later.

"Don'tcha know lad!" Cait smirked, standing over the beast, "Zombie movies aren't cool anymore!"

Then drove the pointed end through the frontal lobe, the skull crumbling like dirt.

But then a second skeleton suddenly burst through the sand, it's boned fingers scooping up the tiny body.

"Ack!" Cait screamed. "Mayday! Mayday!"

The creature was ugly indeed, with half of it's face rotted meat and slavering jowls, only one of it's eyes remaining in the socket. It growled a horrible sound, preparing to tear the toy body directly in half.

"Heeeeeelp!" Cait screamed again, thrashing about to try and be free.

A set of canine jaws suddenly clamped around the zombie's throat, completely separating the head from the body, the rest of which crumbled and fell apart. Cait fell hard to the ground, quickly checking itself to make sure it was still in one piece, "I'm alive? Samhell! I'm alive!"

The dust slowly cleared then, and a canine like beast emerged. Cait recognized the eyes, and the feathered hairpin upon it's head, "Well met, Cait."

"Red XIII! Bloody hell lad!" And threw it's tiny arms around the canine creature's neck, "I'm glad ye're still alive!"

Red made a noise akin to a brief chuckle, patting the toy upon the back with his right paw, "As am I to see you still in one piece, old friend."

"Fer' a second there I had feared to be ripped in two!"

Red made the same chuckling noise, "And you nearly were. Ah, I wish that our meeting had been under better circumstances."

The female manticore dropped from the sky then, scorpion tail thrashing left and right, clearly angered. Cait squeaked, "You an' me both, lad! I hope ye brought back up!"

Red's jowls pulled back in what could only be a smirk. He then threw his head back and howled a loud and ear-piercing note. A moment later, the rock formations and even the surrounding landscape seemed to come alive, as men and women suddenly burst from hiding, their bodies painted to blend into the landscape. They were bronze-skinned warriors from Cosmo Canyon, and they pounced on the zombies and scorpions with their native shrieking battle cries.

Cait hopped up and down in excitement, "Lad, I could kiss ya!"

"I sincerely hope that you don't," Red replied, "Come, let us finish this."

Cait bent down and retrieved his pointed branch, then hopped onto the canine creature's back, settling snugly just behind his head, "Just' like ol' times lad! Chaaaarge!"

With a roar, Red darted toward the manticore, throwing himself to the left to avoid a jab by the scorpion tail. Paws dug deep into the ground to slow his momentum, jaws snapping out to take the creature by the left rear leg. Cait used this opportunity to leap from Red's back and land on the back of the beast. Cait soon found however, it had to grip tightly to the fur and scales of the manticore, as it now shook itself and whirled about to free itself from the attackers.

"Don' let go, lad!" Cait screamed.

Red replied with a throaty growl, behind a mouthful of manticore leg.

Cait then looked up, just in time to see the scorpion barb drive itself toward him, and was forced to let go. The last thing he saw of the manticore before it was thrown into the air, was the manticore's scorpion barb driving itself into it's own back!

"Saaaaaaaaamheeeeeeeeeeeell!" Cait yelled as it soared into the air.

Red released the manticore and jumped straight up, for Cait to land safely upon his back, "Caution, Cait! Manticore's are a deadly foe."

"Don' I know it!" Cait panted, "But this one isn't a smart lass!"

Red peered over his shoulder, "How do you mean?"

"Get me back onto her back, an' I'll show ya what I mean!"

Red charged then, coming up from behind the manticore. At the last moment, he jumped straight into the air and quickly arched his back, to launch Cait into the air. At this point, Cait noticed it still had a grip on the wooden stake.

"Incooomiiiiiiing!" Cait called, pointing the stake downward.

The wooden point hit home, digging deep into the monster's back but narrowly missing it's heart. The manticore reared back onto it's hind legs and roared a painful note, the wings convulsing and the scorpion tail twitching. Cait held on, sinking it's tiny teeth into the scaly flesh of the beast. Just as it had hoped, the deadly barb came lurching back in. Cait rolled to the left, keeping a fistful of fir in it's tiny fist; again the toy bit into the flesh, and again the barb shot towards it. At this point, Cait was forced to let go, and fell underneath the thrashing body of the manticore, but Red darted past, scooping it up before it was crushed and rent by the manticore's claws.

"Oi, thanks lad! I owe ye one!" Cait said after Red had dropped it back to the ground.

"This must be ended now," Red said, and took two steps forward.

"Jus' wait an' watch, lad!" Cait said, putting a tiny palm on the canine's shoulder.

The manticore's own venom now worked against it, and with her adrenaline and heart now pumping wildly, only sped up the spread of the deadly poison. The monster gradually moved slower and slower, eventually flopping down onto her stomach, clawing and growling feebly at the ones around her. Finally, the late faded from the manticore's eyes, the wings crumpled flat against the body, and she was no more. For just a moment, Cait felt a sting of pity for the poor, stupid creature.

Around them, the WRO and Red's warriors only continued to trade fire with the other monsters, until the skeletal minions burst into clouds of dust, and the scorpions retreated a short distance and buried themselves into the sand and were no more.

"What'n the hell was that all about?" Cait said, after the other monsters were done.

"There is much we need to discuss, old friend," Red said, padding past him.

"Ya got that right!" Cait replied.

"You don't understand, Cait," Red said in a scolding manner, "There is much wrong in the world, particularly on this side of it."

"It's why Reeve sent me..." Cait began.

Red interrupted, "We can talk at Cosmo Canyon. Collect your dead, for there is no time to bury them; you'll find carts just behind that next ridge to carry them in. My tribe will escort you back; I have to return quickly."

"Oi?" Cait wondered, but Red had already shot away as fast as he could, leaving a small dust trail in his wake.

Cait and the rest of the WRO soldiers had marveled at the ingenuity of the westerners. Not long after they set out from the battle sight, the tribe directed them to a secret tunnel a half mile away. This tunnel had been burrowed deep into the earth, and had lead directly to Cosmo Canyon. While normally the troop would have had to traverse miles and miles around small mountains and impassable terrain, these tunnels were dug under them for a direct route. What normally would have taken a day or more of marching, was instead reduced to a few hours' hike. Cait took careful note, that every precaution had been taken; every mile mark was blocked off by thick walls of wooden spiked palisades, and at least half a dozen warriors. Cait had also noticed several hidden slots and other doors in the sides of the rock, where no doubt more of Red's tribe lay hidden.

The air was extremely close and hot, and several halts were ordered for the surviving WRO soldiers to pause and drain their water jugs. Unlike their darker skinned brethren, the WRO were very much not used to confined spaces, and Cait shivered to think what it must be like, spending countless hours in near darkness, tons of rock surrounding you on all sides. Finally, the band reached the final checkpoint, this one more heavily guarded than the others. One of Red's tribe, an older 40something with graying black hair who was a member of their escort, traded words with a similar looking guard. Cait could not understand a single word of the native language, but once a team of six guards moved towards the rear of the cave, assumed all had gone well. The six guards then pulled back a large, rounded stone door, which rolled to the left and into a waiting crevice to spill in sunlight which blinded everyone within.

"Finally, starting to feel like a mole down in these tunnels!" One soldier commented.

"Who would wanna be stuck down here?" Another threw in.

"Quiet, ye lot!" Cait scolded, just as he and the first few soldiers emerged from the hole.

Cosmo Canyon was exactly as Cait and the few select troops who had been there before remembered it. The great rock formation towered above the rest of the landscape, it and the surrounding land a dark shade of burgundy, and those that had never been to the Canyon began to mutter and ogled at the sight before them. The tunnel exit was within the boundaries of the canyon, though even on the outside it was just as heavily guarded as the inside. A path had been cut leading up to the actual entrance, with posted guards every thirty feet or so.

Right then, a burly tribesman approached Cait's group, nodding to the toy, "Cait, correct?"

"Tha's me, lad!" Cait replied.

The tribesman nodded, "Chief Nanaki has prepared living quarters for your soldiers to eat and rest, as well a special burial ground for your fallen should you consent to such. This way, the chieftain awaits."

As the WRO troop drew closer, Cait looked up at the highest point of the rock formation; specifically the old watch tower where Red's grandfather, Bugenhagen had dwelled. Once the great scope stood firm and proud, and the rest of the building shone with great excellence. Now however, the entire observatory was decrepit, covered in rust and several outer walls fallen or torn away. The entire structure was very different from what Cait remembered, and was now nothing but a sad relic of an age long gone it seemed.

The troop passed through a final checkpoint and entered the outlying village, built around the base of the great rock formation. Native women and children scurried away into their homes at the approach of the soldiers, while the men watched their every move, a weapon of some form never out of arm's reach.

"Don't mind them," Their guide said to Cait, "The last time strangers were admitted into the Canyon... well, perhaps you should ask the chieftain."

The single wooden door was pushed open by the sentry and Cait, riding on the shoulder of the troop's commanding officer, strode in. The room opened up, somewhat spacious, but only able to host forty or so people. Lit braziers were scattered around the room, but to Cait's amazement, the flames changed color from red, to green, blue, purple, then back to red again. Dead center and in the very rear of the room, there was a section of floor raised an inch higher than the rest, with a wooden throne of sorts, two small flames burning behind it and also changing colors in sync with the braziers. And upon it, sitting on his hind legs, sat Red. Red nodded at the approaching newcomers, the beads clacking in his hairpin, on both sides of the throne stood a guard, heavy spears held close.

"Please, step forward friends," Red called across the room.

Once Cait and the soldier stood directly in front of the throne, Red nodded yet again, "I would speak with Cait in private council," Then rose to stand on all fours, "See that our guest from overseas is treated with respect, as are our his comrades."

The soldier seemed apprehensive to depart, but Cait hopped off his shoulder and onto the floor, "No worries, lad! Go an' rest with the others!"

Only once the room was cleared and the wooden door shut did Red return to his sitting position, "I was not sure if you even required food, else I would have prepared something..."

Cait shook it;s head, pushing a wooden stool in front of the throne and flopping down into it, "No worries, lad! Now... what's goin' on? Reeve and the other WRO haven't heard from ye' since the Brotherhood attacks!"

"As I told you in the field," Red said, "Chaos reigns in all parts of the world, especially here."

Cait leaned closer, "How d'ya mean, lad?"

"Surely you and your comrades have noticed... that many of the monsters seemed to have vanished from the land?"

Cait nodded, "Aye,"

"And as you've seen, when they do appear they come in waves, large groups?"

"Aye, lad! What are ye sayin'?"

Red's face turned grim then, "An evil beast has arisen, Cait, and she appeared not long after the Brotherhood laid siege to Junon."

"Ya know about all that? How?"

Red considered the question a moment, "I'm not without my resources, old friend."

"Ah, well... a' course! But you mentioned a beast... she?"

"Yes," Again Red stood up and padded off the upraised platform, "I've had my scholars digging through old lore books and such. Thus far, only one word has made sense... mother."

Red then stepped towards a rectangular table sporting three wooden chairs, one of which he hopped up into. Cait jumped into one chair, then hopped onto the table, which sported two large and extremely dusty open books, and a few unrolled scrolls.

"Ya mentioned 'mother', what'n the world does that mean?" Cait asked.

Red shook his head, "No one knows, sadly what you see is all we have been able to procure, and none of it makes sense."

Cait flopped down in front of one book, gingerly turning the old parchment page, "What language is this, lad?"

"None of my scribes and scholars know," Red admitted, "however, the theory is that it might be the language of the Ancients, the Cetra."

The toy looked up then, "Could such things from that era even still exist?"

Red merely shrugged, or as close as he could manage.

"What d'ye know of this beast? This../ mother?"

"It's only speculation, and whatever information is before us may be a reference to something entirely different," Red said, "But I recall stories my grandfather told me. She's said to be the one who created the land itself, or rather, Cosmo Canyon."

"Oh?" Cait wondered, truly curious, "Go on then."

Red looked to the floor, sifting through old memories, "The Canyon was once ruled by the beasts, and from it's heart, the Mother ruled over all."

Cait turned another page, and saw a faded picture of some terrible foe, a female humanoid with four arms, the gender being evidenced by the bared breasts in the ancient painting. In each hand the monster wielded something resembling a jagged dagger, orange flames erupting from the open, fang-filled maw. A shiver ran through Cait, as Red continued to speak.

"As well the Canyon, the legends say the Mother also created the first beasts, and she favored the manticore, they being her personal guard and messengers. And then man came, and a bloody war ensued. Somehow, my tribesman's ancestors banished the Mother, and scattered her forces into the dusty winds."

Red paused, realized what he had said, and cleared his throat, "Or so the legends say."

"An' ya think this... mother has arisen again?" Cait offered.

Red shrugged again, "Who's to say? Never have the local monsters banded together like what you witnessed today. Not in those numbers, and certainly not that organized; they don't possess the cunning. I wouldn't want to jump to conclusions, but..." The canine shook his head, "Forgive me, Cait, you did not travel to the opposite side of the world for local bedtime stories." Then hopped off the chair and padded back to sit upon the small wooden throne.

Cait glanced at the painting in the book of what could only be this 'Mother' beast, shivered again, then returned to the wooden stool set before Red, "There is much goin' on ye need to know, lad! Ye already know of Junon comin' under attack!"

"Yes. How fare the others, Cloud, Tifa?"

"Last I heard, Cloud n Tifa were well enough! Barret an' Cid too; they both an' Vincent fought in Junon!"

That brought a small smile to the canine's features, "Ah, what I would have given to have been there, to fight alongside our friends again."

Cait nodded, also seeming to smile, "Aye, lad! Though maybe meself not so much,"

"I've also caught wind of what happened to Yuffie," Red quickly put in, any speck of joy gone from his face and voice, "And for that, I am sorry."

Cait nodded yet again, "A terrible unfortunate thing ta' be sure! But Tseng and meself found out where she's bein' held! I suspect Cloud an' the others are soon to get her back!"

Red made a content sound, "It won't be an easy task. There is another matter that you must know."

"Eh?"

"Bring in the prisoner!" Red suddenly yelled, which startled Cait.

To the left, a hidden door made of rock slowly slid to the left, and the sounds of scuffling and shouting were soon heard. A moment later, two muscled tribesmen entered the throne room, dragging along a shirtless white male with a thick straw bag thrown over his head. The prisoner was bound with thick rope, and despite his precarious situation, continued to struggle against his captors. Finally, he was brought before the throne, one tribesman kicking his feet out from under him, then yanking off the straw bag. He was gagged with a thick cloth, his eyes wildly darting around the room, likely looking for an escape route.

"An' who is this, then?" Cait wondered.

"A Brotherhood messenger," Red said grimly.

"What!" Cait shrieked, "How do ye' know?"

"The tattoos on his skin," One of the armed tribesman answered.

On closer inspection, Cait did indeed notice damning marks, not the least of which being the infamous Brotherhood insignia: JENOVA's face atop three rocky spires, a long and curved blade resembling that awful weapon of Sephiroth's the Masamune and a military rifle shaped into an "L."

"Samhell!" Cait swore, "So far west? But how?"

"I was hoping you could tell me, friend," Red admitted.

"What message was he carryin'?" Cait asked.

"Sadly, he managed to consume it before my tribe captured him. Oh, you can put the scum back where you found him." Red said, nodding to the Brotherhood prisoner. Once he was carted away and the stone door slid shut again, Red went on,

"And worse besides, many of my outer villages are being raided, pillaged. Awful things are happening here, Cait, entire villages are burned, all of the boys and men have vanished, and the women are raped and slaughtered. Why?"

"Bloody..." Cait gasped, "So only the men are missin'?"

Red nodded.

"One of yer' men mentioned somethin' aboot strangers bein' in the Canyon before..." Cait suddenly remembered, "Tha' Brotherhood?"

Now Red's face turned sad, "A small band came, I assume before they attacked Junon on the mainland. They demanded my alliance, or at the very least tributes for the safety of my people. When their commander revealed their ultimate intent, naturally I refused. And so they began to slaughter people, right outside of here, Cait. I believe they knew none of them would survive, and merely wanted to send a message."

"That's awful, lad," Cait said sadly, "but now ye know exactly tha' kind of monsters we're dealin' with! Tha's why Reeve and the WRO need yer' help!"

"And what would you have me do, Cait? I cannot send my own warriors across the seas to fight. Did you not hear me when I said my lands are under siege as well?"

"But..." Cait tried to plead.

But the chieftain would not listen, "I do not wish to see my friends come under harm, do not misunderstand me. But since my grandfather passed, these people are mine to lead now, and to protect. They demand answers, revenge, and what would happen, were I to send the survivors away?"

"Reeve could...!"

"The Brotherhood has clearly already reached this far west, and so if they were to learn the entirety of the villages were unguarded, my warriors would return to smoldering ash and death. I truly am sorry, Cait, but I have to ensure the survival of my people."

Cait heaved a sigh, "It looks as though tha' war is now goin' ta' be fought on two fronts!"

Red likewise sighed, "I am sorry you traveled so far to be so disappointed, but I'm sure Reeve will understand. I shall do what I can from here, keep them from advancing any further out west, but concerning the mainland and Edge itself... I cannot help you."

"I understand, lad," Cait said, slowly sliding out of it's seat.

"Go now, and rest," Red offered, "you all have marched a long way. I'll send word that you and yours may come and go as you please, within reason, and may depart when you are ready. Though, I pray you will at least say goodbye before leaving..."

"Of course, lad!" Cait said, walking away, "Perhaps we'll talk more tomorrow?"

Red agreed, "Perhaps. Rest well, Cait."

As the door was opened by a guard from the outside and then closed again, Red glanced down at his paws, listening to the crackling braziers around him. He then looked upon the left arm rest of the throne, carefully studying the object there. Built into the throne itself was a small stone carving, crafted into the exact likeness of Bugenhagen himself, the stone of the local deep red shade.

"Grandfather..." Red whispered, "...have I made the right choice?"